testify
verb
tes·ti·fy
ˈte-stə-ˌfī 
testified; testifying
1
: to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact (as in a court)
2
a
: to make a statement based on personal knowledge or belief : bear witness
b
: to serve as evidence or proof
3
: to express a personal conviction
2
: to declare under oath before a tribunal or officially constituted public body
3
Examples of testify in a Sentence
She refused to testify about who had given her the information.
She testified before Congress today.
He agreed to testify against his drug dealer.
He testified that he'd seen two people leave the building on the night of the murder.
These statistics testify that the program is working.
Several people testified during the revival meeting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Company representatives also testified to the legislature this week in opposition to a bill that would reduce the number of commissioners on the authority.
—
John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2025
Baker testified to Congress in December that the NCAA needed legal clarity around the issue of transgender athletes, while also estimating there were fewer than 10 trans athletes among the 530,000 competing at roughly 1,100 member schools.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2025
Three people testified in favor of the bill at the Senate hearing, including Thad Butterworth, chairman of the Ada County Republican Central Committee.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 2025
Angel Acosta, a junior student at Cardinal Ritter High School in Indianapolis, testified before the committee to continue funding the Career Scholarship Account program, which was established in 2023 and grants $5,000 per student per school year to participate in career preparation programs.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for testify 
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John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2025
Baker testified to Congress in December that the NCAA needed legal clarity around the issue of transgender athletes, while also estimating there were fewer than 10 trans athletes among the 530,000 competing at roughly 1,100 member schools.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2025
Three people testified in favor of the bill at the Senate hearing, including Thad Butterworth, chairman of the Ada County Republican Central Committee.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 2025
Angel Acosta, a junior student at Cardinal Ritter High School in Indianapolis, testified before the committee to continue funding the Career Scholarship Account program, which was established in 2023 and grants $5,000 per student per school year to participate in career preparation programs.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for testify
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Cite this Entry
“Testify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/testify. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
testify
verb
tes·ti·fy
ˈtes-tə-ˌfī
testified; testifying
1
a
: to make a statement based on personal knowledge or belief
could testify to the student's devotion to her studies
b
: to make a formal statement of what one swears is true
testified in court
2
: to give outward proof : serve as a sign of
yawns testifying to fatigue
Legal Definition
testify
verb
tes·ti·fy
ˈtes-tə-ˌfī
testified; testifying
: to make a solemn declaration under oath or affirmation for the purpose of establishing a fact : give testimony
: to declare in testimony
testifier
noun
Etymology
Latin testificari, from testis witness
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